Mar 01, Colombo: In an ambitious move to increase tourist arrivals to the country, the government is planning to promote Sri Lanka as an attractive tourist destination for people in China.

Accordingly, Sri Lanka has planned to invite 100 travel agents from China to visit Sri Lanka this year to familiarize them on the island's tourism related activities.

A proposal put forward by the Economic Development Minister to proceed with the related activities of the tourism campaign has received the Cabinet approval.

Under the five-year Tourism Development Strategy set in 2011, the government expects to increase tourist arrivals to 2.5 million by 2016 and earn US$ 3 billion from foreign exchange earnings. The plan expects to provide employment to 500,000 people.